Microchannel heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat exchange tube segments defining a plurality of fluid pathways therein and a bend formed in the plurality of heat exchange tube segments defining a first leg of the heat exchanger positioned at a first side of the bend, and a second leg of the heat exchanger positioned at a second side of the bend opposite the first side. The heat exchanger is positioned relative to a flow direction of an incoming airflow such that the bend is closer to a source of the incoming airflow than the first leg and the second leg.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of heat exchange tube segments defining a plurality of fluid pathways therein; and 
 a bend formed in the plurality of heat exchange tube segments defining a first leg of the heat exchanger disposed at a first side of the bend, and a second leg of the heat exchanger disposed at a second side of the bend opposite the first side; 
 wherein the heat exchanger is positioned relative to a flow direction of an incoming airflow such that the bend is closer to a source of the incoming airflow than the first leg and the second leg; 
 wherein the bend is positioned lower vertically than the first leg and the second leg. 
 
     
     
       2. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising a drain pan positioned vertically below the bend. 
     
     
       3. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first leg and the second leg define a mixing area therebetween for mixing of a discharge airflow of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
       4. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising a header disposed at at least one of the first leg or the second leg. 
     
     
       5. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is installed in a housing/cabinet substantially surrounding the heat exchanger. 
     
     
       6. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the bend has an included bend angle of 90 degrees or less. 
     
     
       7. The heat exchanger of  claim 6 , wherein the bend angle is between 15 and 45 degrees. 
     
     
       8. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is substantially V-shaped. 
     
     
       9. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is configured as an evaporator of a vapor compression cycle. 
     
     
       10. A heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, comprising:
 a condenser configured to condense a flow of refrigerant flowing therethrough; and 
 an evaporator operably connected to the condenser and configured to exchange thermal energy between the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator and an airflow directed across the evaporator, the evaporator including:
 a plurality of heat exchange tube segments defining a plurality of fluid pathways therein; and 
 a bend formed in the plurality of heat exchange tube segments defining a first leg of the evaporator disposed at a first side of the bend, and a second leg of the evaporator disposed at a second side of the bend opposite the first side; 
 wherein the evaporator is positioned relative to a flow direction of an incoming airflow such that the bend is closer to a source of the incoming airflow than the first leg and the second leg; 
 wherein the bend is positioned lower vertically than the first leg and the second leg. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system of  claim 10 , further comprising a drain pan positioned vertically below the bend. 
     
     
       12. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system of  claim 10 , wherein the first leg and the second leg define a mixing area therebetween for mixing of a discharge airflow of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
       13. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system of  claim 10 , further comprising a header disposed at at least one of the first leg or the second leg. 
     
     
       14. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system of  claim 10 , wherein the evaporator is installed in a housing/cabinet substantially surrounding the evaporator. 
     
     
       15. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system of  claim 10 , wherein the bend has an included bend angle of 90 degrees or less. 
     
     
       16. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system of  claim 15 , wherein the bend angle is between 15 and 45 degrees. 
     
     
       17. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system of  claim 10 , wherein the evaporator is substantially V-shaped. 
     
     
       18. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more fins extending between adjacent heat exchange tube segments of the plurality of heat exchange tube segments.